Air supply system



' Jul 19, 1932. P, D N LL 1,867,867

' AIR SUPPLY SYSTEM Filed Npv. 22, 1930 gwuwntoc Philip L. ODonne/lPatented July 19, .1932

PATENT oFricu PHILIP L. ODONNELL, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO AIR SUPPLY SYSTEMApplication filed November 22, 1930. Serial No. 497,617.

This invention relates to an air supply system in which air is suppliedto a series of air-using devices from a single conduit.

The invention is particularly contemplated herein in connection with agroup of ma-- chines utilizing hot air, controllable air supply andair-heating means being associated with each machine, whereby greateconomy is ell'ected since both the air supply and the heating thereofis made selective with each machine in a series.

An object of the invention is to provide means for supplying a constantvolume of air to each machine in the group so that they work with equalefficiency.

Another object is to provide such means which may be installed for usewith machines without materially changing the arrange meut of suchmachines.

Another object is to provide a single air supply which efficiencyprovides for a varying number of air using devices, thus avoiding theexpensive of providing individual air supply means for each machine ordevice.

;, Another object is to provide such an a r supply having means forcutting off the air supply from one or more machines of a group withoutinterfering with the operation of the system as a whole.

., These and other objects are attained by the means described hereinand set forth in the accompanying drawing, which is a schematicrepresentation of the hot air supply system of the present inventionassociated with French folding machines.

The chief disadvantage heretofore with regard to groups of apparatuswhich utilize an air supply from a single conduit, has been that thevolume of air as supplied to the later 1 machines in the group wasmaterially less than that supplied to the first and immediatelysubsequent machines, due to the repeated tappings made upon the singleair conduit. This disadvantage has been noted in .3 connection withvarious kinds of mechanisms and apparatus and particularly with machinessuch as French folding machines which utilize a blast of hot air forrendering adhesive the tape which such machines are designed to apply.

The system, for the purpose of illustration, is shown in conjunctionwith French folding machines comprising a base portion 5 and thelaterally extending arms 6 and 7 arm 7 being he work-receiving andWorkmoving member upon which shoe uppers and the like are placed for thepurpose of having taping applied to the edges thereof. The upper arm 6supports the tape folding mechanism, movement of both said mechanismsbeing supplied through the pulley and belt indicated generally at 8. Theoperation of French folding machines entails the use of means forrendering sufiiciently adhesive the applied portions of the tape. Forthis puro5 pose a concentrated blast of hot air is directed against suchadhesive port-ions just before the folding operation thereof. Theterminal of this hot air supply is shown at the restricted end 9 of thehot air pipe 10 coming from an air heating apparatus indicated generallyat 11. Adjacent the machine the hot air pipe 10 may be provided withsuitable insulating material 12. The air heating means may be of anysuitable type, and as shown herein is/of that kind set forth in myco-pending application, Serial Number 363,236, filed May 15, 1929. Thismeans comprises a screen casing 13 within which a hot air cylinder isdisposed, said cylinder in turn containing a heating element, theseinterior elements not being shown herein. The degree of heat of suchelement may be controlled by the rheostat 14. An end of the hot air pipe10 communicates with one end of said hot air cylinder andauxiliary airsupply pipes 15 and 16, associated with adjacent machines, communicatewith the other end of this cylinder, it being understood that the air isheated in its passage through the air cylinder.

Air under pressure is supplied from a suitable air volume moving meansindicated at 17 from which the air is passed into a conduit linecomposed of units of piping, the unit associated with each machine beingof a lesser diameter than that of the preceding unit so that the volumeof air supplied to the various machines remains constant. It will beseen that the auxiliary supply pipe 15 communicates with a relativelylarge unit 18, and that Y the subsequent pipe unit 19 with which theauxiliary pipe 16 communicates is of relatively less diameter. Insimilar fashion the pipe unit 20 is of smaller diameter than the pipeunit 19, it being understood that these pipe units are connected bysuitable joint means indicated generally at 21. l

A cut-01f valve 22 of any approved type, may be associated with eachauxiliary pipe 15 and 16, for selectively shutting off any one or moreofthe machines from the air supply, closing of said valve in no wayafiecting operation of the system as a whole.

It will be seen that by thus diminishing the diameter of the conduitunits after supply ing the various machines in a given group, that aconstant and equal volume of air may be supplied to each for achievingmaximum efliciency.

What is claimed is: 1. The combination with a series of machinesutilizing a hot air supply, of air pressure means, a conduit linecommunicating therewith, said line composed of units of successivelydiminished capacity, a take-01f conduit communicating with each unit, aplurality of air heating devices associated one each with one of saidmachines and receiving the air supply from one of said takeoff conduits,and a conduit directing the heated air to the associated machine. 2. Thecombination with a series of airusing machines, of air volume-movingmeans a conduit line communicating therewith, said line composed ofunits of successively diminished capacity, a take-off conduitcommunicating with each unit, a cut-ofi' valve associated with eachtake-off conduit, a plurality of controllable air heating devicesassociated one each with one of said machines and receiving the air supply from one of said take-0E conduits, and a conduit directing theheated air to the associated machine.

3. The combination with a series of folding machines for applyingadhesive tape to shoe uppers, of means for rendering the tape properlyadhesive before application thereof and comprising air pressure means, amain conduit line communicating therewith, said line composed of unitsof successively-diminished capacity, a take-off conduit communicatingwith each of said units, a plurality of air-heating devices associatedone each with one of said machines and each receiving the air supplyfrom one of said take-off conduits, a cut-off valve associated with eachof the take-off conduits, and a warm-air conduit associated with eachair-heating device and having a restricted end terminating adj acent thefolding means of the machine and adapted to direct the heated air uponthe ad hesive portions of the tape immediately before folding of thetape.

4. The combination with a series of folding machines for applyingadhesive tape to properly adhesive before application thereof andcomprising air pressure means, a main conduit. line communicatingtherewith, said line composed of units of successivelyrdiminishedcapacity, a take-off conduit communicating with each of said units, aplurality of air-heating devices associated one each with one of saidmachines and each receiving the air supply from one of said takeoii'conduits, a warm-'air'conduit associated with each air-heating deviceand having a restricted end terminating adjacent the folding means ofthe machine and adapted to direct the heated air upon the adhesiveportions of the tape immediately before folding of the tape, and meansassociated with each machine for selectively varying the quantity andthe temperature of the air directed upon the tape.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 18th dayof November,

- PHILIP L. ODONNELL.

